May 14, 2021
SoilMate’s Weekly News Digest #14
Welcome back to our Digest. The most interesting AgTech and FoodTech news of the week from around the globe.
A unique biodiversity hotspot located in North America
Scientists studying American bees have recognized that the Sonoran and Chihuahuan Deserts in North America, where species with fascinating histories of life exist, have a high biodiversity of bees. Exactly how many species remain an assumption. Together with students from Mexico, Guatemala, and the United States, the authors remade collections over several years, identifying more than 70,000 samples.
The border between the United States and Mexico runs through vast expanses of pristine land in North America, including the recently discovered world bee diversity hotspot. Sixteen square kilometers of the protected Chihuahuan Desert are home to more than 470 species of bees or 14 percent of the known United States bee population.
A new report details that nature has the potential to fight climate change and biodiversity loss in the UK
For the first time, the report offers a full assessment of the enormous potential of natural-based solutions (NbS) to mitigate climate change and improve biodiversity in the UK.
According to the report, the priority of NbS is the recovery of peatlands in the UK. 2.6 million hectares of peatland in the UK contain about 3 billion tons of carbon, but most of them are degraded and no longer actively sequester carbon. The restoration of degraded peatlands through re-watering and revegetation can reduce and prevent these emissions and provide benefits in terms of biodiversity conservation and flood protection.
John Deere redefines its 5M series by adding new technologies
John Deere revised his line of 5M tractors, adding new technologies and transmission options, introducing a new 125-strong tractor in the lineup. These extra capabilities and features will appeal to hay, livestock, and commercial customers.
A feature of the large tractor that appeared in the 5M series due to the built-in display on the dashboard AutoTrac guidance that helps operators reduce overhead cover, reduce field penetration, reduce fatigue and save fuel. «No other universal tractor on the market offers such a level of integrated guidance compared to a universal medium-level tractor, which makes the performance potential of the 5M series unsurpassed», said Greg Christensen, marketing manager John Deere.
Stockeld Dreamery produces «the most ambitious cheese in the world»
Vegan cheese in the early 2000s and earlier is one product that has never lived up to expectations. It did not have exactly the right taste, the texture was almost always missing, and it could not melt as well as the animal cheeses.
But the situation is beginning to change with the recent explosion of innovations in plant protein, including alternative dairy products.
Stockeld Dreamery is a Swedish startup that dives into the game with alternative dairy products. The company specializes in cheese and has just introduced its first Stockeld Chunk product in Northern European retail stores and restaurants.
Stockeld Chunk is the result of more than two years of R&D and is produced by fermentation using peas and beans. «Inspired by Greece and produced in Sweden.» The final product has a «familiar sour-salty taste with rich, smooth and scattered texture,» similar to the Greek feta.
